Apparatus for producing a coiled thread package

ABSTRACT

A vertical axis rotating receiving plate is provided onto which the coiled thread package is formed. Said receiving plate is urged upwardly against a rotating depositing disc, the axis of rotation of which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the receiving plate. The depositing disc is carried by a rotating hollow shaft, presenting an upper open end and a radial bore in proximity of its bottom end integral with the depositing disc. A pulley, which is coaxial to the axis of the depositing disc, and stationary with respect to the said depositing disc, is provided. Also a freely rotatable roller is provided, which is integral in rotation with the depositing disc. A flexible endless belt is led, by its inner run, over said pulley and said roller. The thread to be deposited is taken from a suitable supply source, passes through the hollow shaft, out of the radial bore, in the contact zone between the roller and the belt cooperating therewith, and hence it is positively fed to a through bore provided in the depositing disc.

United States Patent 191 Crotti Nov. 25, 1975 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COILED THREAD PACKAGE Renato Crotti, 71, Corso Canalgrande, Modena, Italy, 41100 22 Filed: Sept. 10, 1914 211 Appl. No.: 504,706

[ 76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor and Hinds [57] ABSTRACT A vertical axis rotating receiving plate is provided onto which the coiled thread package is formed. Said receiving plate is urged upwardly against a rotating depositing disc, the axis of rotation of which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the receiving plate. The depositing disc is carried by a rotating hollow shaft, presenting an upper open end and a radial bore in proximity of its bottom end integral with the depositing disc. A pulley, which is coaxial to the axis of the depositing disc, and stationary with respect to the said depositing disc, is provided. Also a freely rotatable roller is provided, which is integral in rotation with the depositing disc. A flexible endless belt is led, by its inner run, over said pulley and said roller. The thread to be deposited is taken from a suitable supply source, passes through the hollow shaft, out of the radial bore, in the contact zone between the roller and the belt cooperating therewith, and hence it is positively fed to a through bore provided in the depositing disc.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patant Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,921,267

Sheet 2 of 2 US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COILEI) THREAD FACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the coiling of a continuous length of textile material, in the form of thread, hereinafter generically referred to as thread. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for producing a coiled thread package by feeding loops of thread on a receiving plate in such a manner that the loops progress along a substantially annular path.

An apparatus for producing a coiled thread package, of the type above mentioned, is described in my U.S. PatfNo. 3,816,889.

2. Description of the Prior Art in the prior art there are known apparatuses for producing a coiled thread package of the mentioned type, which basically comprise a receiving plate upon which a depositing disc deposits the thread in loops, there being provided a relative movement between the depositing disc and the receiving plate, so that the loops progress along an annular path to form successive layers of thread.

The receiving plate and the depositing disc are elastically urged the one towards the other, so that the thread is actually drawn, from suitable supply means, to a through bore provided in the depositing disc, by the combined action of the rotating depositing disc and of the receiving plate, from which it is clamped while being deposited in loops. This is due to the fact that the underside of the depositing disc, which is preferably constructed with such a diameter as to cover the whole upper surface of the package being formed, has the lowest possible frictional coefficient, while the receiving plate and the upper surface of the package being formed present a higher degree of adhesion or sticking capacity with respect to the frictional resistance generated by the side of the depositing disc which is in contact with the thread package being formed.

Basically, the formation of a thread package of the type above described can be accomplished in two ways. According to a first mode of operation, a rotating thread-depositing member or depositing disc is provided having a fixed axis of rotation, from which the thread is deposited in circular rings. Since however also the surface onto which the thread is deposited is rotating about an axis which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the depositing member, the thread will be deposited onto the receiving surface or plate in loops which progress along an annular path.

According to a second mode of operation, the receiving surface does not rotate, while the thread depositing member or depositing disc, besides rotating about its own axis, revolves also about a fixed axis which is eccentrically arranged with respect to its above mentioned axis of rotation, i.e. the axis of rotation of the thread depositing member rotates about a fixed spacedapart axis, which coincides with the center of the package being formed.

In any case, as it appears evident from the above, it is necessary to provide for a relative circular movement between the receiving plate and the axis of rotation of the depositing disc.

Although in some apparatuses known in the art, such as for example in the'U.S. Pat. No. 3,226,794 (ERB), the force which is necessary for drawing the thread from the supply bobbin is directly provided by the mentioned rotational movements of the depositing disc and of the receiving plate, which determine a drawing of the thread from the said supply, it is more convenient and advantageous that the thread be positively fed to the depositing disc at the exact :speed required by the said drawing action.

It has been therefore proposed, according to my above mentioned patent, an apparatus in which the positive feeding of the thread, at the exact speed which is required by the drawing action. of the depositing disc and of the associated receiving plate, is obtained by providing a feeding roller which is integral in rotation with the depositing disc, and travels along a fixed annular track. The thread to be fed to the depositing disc is clamped between the feeding roller and the annular track, so as to be positively fed to the said depositing disc, upon rotation of same.

This arrangement has proved to be very advantageous and it operates in a most satisfactory manner.

According to the present invention, some modifications have been made to the apparatus described in my above mentioned patent, which are particularly useful whenever it is required, for some reasons, that the contact between the roller and the track be not restricted to just one point, as it practically happens in the case of a fixed annular track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, an apparatus for producing a coiled thread package of the mentioned type is provided, which comprises a pulley arranged above and stationary with respect to the depositing disc, and also comprises a freely rotatable roller integral in rotation with the said depositing disc, arranged above the through bore in the said depositing disc, at some distance from its axis of rotation. A flexible endless belt is led over said pulley and said roller.

The yarn is passed between the said roller and associated inner run of the flexible endless belt at their contact zone, it is passed thereafter through suitable thread guide means, and it is finally fed to the through bore in the depositing disc, to be deposited in the usual manner.

These and other features of the invention will be clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. ll shows diagrammatically a pattern of deposition of the yarn as effected by the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view from the top of the apparatus according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, with parts in section, of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show as many corresponding modifications of the apparatus according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 serves for the production, from a supply bobbin of suitable textile material, of a coiled yarn package Z. The coiled thread package 2 shown in FIG. I is constructed of a continuous length of thread disposed in substantially annular layers forming a coil, each layer being composed of a series of loops which progress along the annular layer of the coil, and in the example shown the diameter of each loop is greater than the radius of the package. Of course, the said diameter of a loop can be smaller than the said radius of the package, as it is known from the prior art.

The apparatus comprises a substantially horizontal depositing disc 1 under which there is arranged a receiving disc or plate 6. The receiving plate 6 is resiliently urged upwardly, in a known manner, against the opposed surface of the depositing disc 1, and is positively rotated around its axis B. The depositing disc 1 is fastened at the lower end of a hollow shaft 2 the axis of which coincides with the axis of rotation A of the depositing disc, which axis of rotation A is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation B of the receiving plate 6. The hollow shaft 2 (and associated depositing disc 1) is rotatably supported by an over-hanging structure 3 secured to the machine frame (not shown). The diameter of the depositing disc 1 is, in the present case, such that the disc 1 always covers the package Z in formation onto the receiving plate 2.

The receiving surface of the plate 6, i.e. the surface onto which the thread F is deposited, presents a high friction coefficient with respect to the thread itself, for example the receiving plate 6 is covered on its upper side with a layer of soft resilient material, such as foam rubber, or any suitable textile fabric. The underside of the depositing disc 1 presents, on the contrary, a minimum friction coefficient, and can be constructed, for

example, of highly polished metal.

The hollow shaft 2 is rotated by a belt and pulley transmission 4, 104 in such a manner that the disc 1 associated with the hollow shaft 2, is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow H in FIG. 2.

The hollow shaft 2 presents an opening at its upper end, which opening is slightly flared out, and in anycase presents a rounded edge in order to reduce at the minimum the friction of the thread F running therethrough, as it will be seen after. The cavity of the hollow shaft 2 terminates inferiorly, below the supporting structure 3 and in proximity of the disc 1, with a radially extending bore 102 in the direction of a through bore provided on the depositing disc 1 at a distance from the axis A corresponding to the radius of the loop of thread being deposited.

To the lower section of the supporting structure 3, at a short distance above the radial bore 2, there is secured in non rotatable manner a pulley 7. A freely rotatable roller 9, having a vertical axis, is carried by a supporting member 15 provided at one end of two rods 10. The two rods 10 are slidably housed in a block 11, integral in rotation with shaft 2 (and disc 1). The rods 10 extend, in a diametrally opposite direction to roller 9, and carry at their end opposite to supporting member a counterweight 12 to provide for a dynamic balancing of roller 9 against the centrifugal force, when the apparatus is in function. A flexible, non stretchable belt 8 is led, by its inner run, over roller 9 and pulley 7. The force of adhesion of roller 9 against the cooperating inner run of belt 8 is determined by the action of springs 13, fitted onto rods 10, which force can be adjusted through suitable adjustment nuts 16, acting on threaded portions of the said rods 10.

A suitable thread guide 14 is provided on the depositing disc 1, at a short distance from the through bore 5 in the same depositing disc.

The operation of the just described device is as follows:

The thread F, coming from suitable supply means (not shown) enters from the open top end of shaft 2, passes through the hollow shaft and comes out of the lower radial bore 102. Hence it is passed in the contact zone between the roller 9 and the belt 8 cooperating therewith, to the thread guide 14 and through the bore 5 in the depositing disc. Upon rotation of the depositing disc (FIG. 2 arrow H), the roller 9 moves around the fixed pulley 7, and, due to the engagement of the flexible belt 8 with said roller and said pulley, said roller 9 is caused to rotate against the inner run of belt 8, which thus acts as a flexible fixed closed circuit track. Thus the thread is drawn out of the radial bore 102 and fed to the through bore 5 at the desired correct speed, to be deposited on the receiving plate 6 in loops progressing along an annular path, as mentioned above.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a modification of the apparatus, according to which two rollers 9 and 18 are provided onto a supporting member 19, and the belt 8 is passed onto said rollers. In this case, the thread F is passed between belt 8 and the first roller 9 (i.e. first in the direction of movement of arrow H), and hence directly to the through bore 5 in the depositing disc. It will be appreciated that by this arrangement the thread F is kept pressed between the roller 9 and the belt 8 for i an are which is less than the arc according to the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, which might be useful for certain types of threads. Moreover, by adjusting the reciprocal position of the two rollers 9 and 18, it is possible to vary at will the amount of this are in which the thread is clamped between feeding roller and belt.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, there is shown another modification of the apparatus, according to which the supporting member carries two rollers 109 and 17, of which roller 109 is driven into rotation, in the manner as previously described, by the cooperation of its upper section with the belt 8, while its lower section, which is not engaged by said belt 8, cooperates with roller 17, which is preferably lined on its outer peripheral surface with resilient material and is pressed against roller 109. The thread F, coming from the radial bore 102 in the hollow shaft 2 is passed between the two rollers 109 and 17, and hence it is fed to the bore 5, by passing through the thread guide 14.

It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is accordingly intended that no limitation be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for producing a coiled thread package constructed of a continuous length of thread disposed in substantially annular layers forming a coil, each layer being constructed of a series of loops which progress along the annular layer of the coil, said apparatus comprising:

a. a receiving plate having a vertical axis;

b. a thread depositing disc arranged above said receiving plate and having a vertical axis, said axis of said depositing disc being arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of the receiving plate, said receiving plate and said depositing disc being capa ble of relative movement toward and away from each other in vertical direction;

c. means for yieldingly urging the said receiving plate and the said depositing disc into relative movement towards each other;

(1. means for rotating the said depositing disc around its axis;

e. further means for causing a relative movement between the axis of the depositing disc and the receiving plate;

f. a through bore on said depositing disc providing a passage for the thread to be deposited on the receiving plate;

g. a feeding device for the thread to be deposited on the receiving plate, said feeding device comprising: 1. a pulley, arranged coaxially to the axis of the depositing disc and stationary with respect to the said depositing disc;

2. a freely rotatable roller, having its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of the depositing disc and supported by means which are integral in rotation with the depositing disc;

3. an endless flexible belt led, by its inner run, over said pulley and said roller, said thread being fed between said belt and said roller such that a portion of the thread is clamped in an are between the belt and roller for a substantial portion of the circumference of the roller.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the roller is caused to bear with its outer revolving surface against the inner run of the belt by suitable spring means acting on the supporting; means of the roller itself.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which suitable counterweights are provided connected to the roller supporting means and arranged in a position diametrally opposite to the said roller.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which a second freely rotatable roller is provided, having its axis parallel to the axis of the depositing disc, and integral in rotation with said depositing disc, the flexible endless belt being passed over both rollers and the pulley. 

1. An apparatus for producing a coiled thread package constructed of a continuous length of thread disposed in substantially annular layers forming a coil, each layer being constructed of a series of loops which progress along the annular layer of the coil, said apparatus comprising: a. a receiving plate having a vertical axis; b. a thread depositing disc arranged above said receiving plate and having a vertical axis, said axis of said depositing disc being arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of the receiving plate, said receiving plate and said depositing disc being capable of relative movement toward and away from each other in vertical direction; c. means for yieldingly urging the said receiving plate and the said depositing disc into relative movement towards each other; d. means for rotating the said depositing disc around its axis; e. further means for causing a relative movement between the axis of the depositing disc and the receiving plate; f. a through bore on said depositing disc providing a passage for the thread to be deposited on the receiving plate; g. a feeding device for the thread to be deposited on the receiving plate, said feeding device comprising:
 1. a pulley, arranged coaxially to the axis of the depositing disc and stationary with respect to the said depositing disc;
 2. a freely rotatable roller, having its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of the depositing disc and supported by means which are integral in rotation with the depositing disc;
 3. an endless flexible belt led, by its inner run, over said pulley and said roller, said thread being fed between said belt and said roller such that a portion of the thread is clamped in an arc between the belt and roller for a substantial portion of the circumference of the roller.
 2. a freely rotatable roller, having its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of the depositing disc and supported by means which are integral in rotation with the depositing disc;
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the roller is caused to bear with its outer revolving surface against the inner run of the belt by suitable spring means acting on the supporting means of the roller itself.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which suitable counterweights are provided connected to the roller supporting means and arranged in a position diametrally opposite to the said roller.
 3. an endless flexible belt led, by its inner run, over said pulley and said roller, said thread being fed between said belt and said roller such that a portion of the thread is clamped in an arc between the belt and roller for a substantial portion of the circumference of the roller.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which a second freely rotatable roller is provided, having its axis parallel to the axis of the depositing disc, and integral in rotation with said depositing disc, the flexible endless belt being passed over both rollers and the pulley. 